Economic News
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January sales drive UK shop prices lower
Prices at UK tills decreased in January as retailers offered "deep discounts" on things like furniture and fashion, according to the British Retail Consortium, though upcoming increases to labour-market bills could reignite inflationary pressures in the spring.
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UK rents drop for first time since 2019
The average price of rent in the UK excluding London fell for the first time since pre-pandemic 2019 in the fourth quarter, according to Rightmove, as supply continues to improve.
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German business sentiment improves in January - Ifo
German business sentiment unexpectedly improved a little in January but companies remained pessimistic, according to a survey released on Monday by the Ifo Institute.
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Chinese manufacturing unexpectedly contracts as services growth slows
China's manufacturing sector has contracted for the first time in four months, while growth in the services industry eased significantly, as private-sector activity began to slow ahead of the Lunar New Year.